The Northgard Devs Are Going to Space
The studio behind Northgard (3 million+ copies sold) and Wartales (1 million+ copies sold) has returned with its most ambitious project yet. On June 11, 2026, French indie studio Shiro Games launched SpaceCraft into Steam Early Access — a multiplayer space exploration, building, and industrial automation sandbox that accumulated 400,000+ wishlists before launch.
Game Overview
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | SpaceCraft |
| Genre | Space Exploration, Building, Automation, Sandbox (Multiplayer) |
| Developer | Shiro Games (Northgard, Wartales, Farever) |
| Release Date | June 11, 2026 (Steam Early Access) |
| Price | $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99 |
| Launch Discount | 10% off for 14 days → ~$26.99 |
| Platform | PC (Steam) |
| Wishlists | 400,000+ |
| Early Access Duration | At least 6 months (community-dependent) |
"The Most Ambitious Game We've Ever Created"
Shiro Games CEO Nicolas Cannasse said at launch:
""SpaceCraft is by far the most ambitious game we've ever created. Our goal was to build a universe that feels both accessible and limitless, a true sandbox where players can explore, industrialise, collaborate, and shape their own stories among the stars. We're incredibly excited to watch the first pioneers begin building humanity's future today." — Nicolas Cannasse, CEO, Shiro Games
If Northgard was about building Viking clans and Wartales was medieval band survival, SpaceCraft scales the ambition to a whole galaxy. Players explore solar systems and planets, mine and process resources, design and build ships, automate planetary bases and interplanetary supply chains, and trade or cooperate with other players.
Core Gameplay Systems
1. Galaxy-Scale Exploration
Traverse a vast galaxy of solar systems and planets, each with unique resources and environments. The game supports solo play through to large-scale multiplayer cooperation.
2. Mining & Crafting
Harvest raw materials from planetary surfaces and process them through a deep crafting system. Different resource types drive strategic route choices across the galaxy.
3. Ship Design & Construction
Build custom ships from modular components — from combat vessels and cargo haulers to dedicated mining platforms. Ship design is freeform, allowing players to specialize for any role.
4. Planetary Base Automation
Set up automated production lines and interplanetary logistics routes. Think Factorio-style factory building, but across multiple planets in different star systems.
5. Trade & Cooperation
Trade resources with other players, collaborate on large-scale projects, and contribute to shared interstellar economies.
Shiro Games' Track Record
| Title | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Evoland | 2013 | Studio debut |
| Evoland 2 | 2015 | — |
| Northgard | 2018 | 3 million+ copies sold |
| Dune: Spice Wars | 2022 | — |
| Wartales | 2023 | 1 million+ copies sold |
| Farever | May 2026 | 100,000+ copies (1 week post-EA) |
| SpaceCraft | June 11, 2026 | 400,000+ wishlists at launch |
Both Northgard and Wartales launched in Early Access and grew steadily through player feedback before hitting their final releases. SpaceCraft follows the same model — but with considerably more pre-launch momentum.
Early Access State at Launch
Shiro Games has been transparent about what's ready now and what's still coming:
- ▶Playable Now: All core gameplay mechanics, ship design, planetary bases, multiplayer
- ▶Stability: Generally stable; some server performance and CPU optimization still in progress
- ▶In Development: Server infrastructure improvements, frame rate optimization, additional content
- ▶EA Duration: "At least 6 months" — actual length will depend on community feedback and development pace
The team's stated philosophy: "Involving our players in the development process is essential to making the best game possible."
Who Is This For?
SpaceCraft sits at the intersection of several popular genres. It'll appeal most to players who enjoy:
- ▶Automation builders like Factorio or Satisfactory (base-building, resource chains)
- ▶Space exploration like No Man's Sky or Elite Dangerous (galaxy traversal, ship customization)
- ▶Cooperative multiplayer with friends building and trading together
- ▶Strategy fans who liked Northgard's depth but want a sci-fi setting
Buying Guide
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (Launch Discount) | ~$26.99 | 10% off, available for 14 days from launch |
| Standard (After Discount) | $29.99 | Full Early Access price |
| Platform | PC via Steam | Console version planned for post-EA full release |
| Language Support | EN, FR, DE, ES, PL, PT-BR, RU, ZH-Simplified | Korean not yet supported |
Buy SpaceCraft on Steam Early Access
GamePeak Verdict
Shiro Games has one of the strongest Early Access track records in indie gaming. They've consistently shipped polished starts, listened to community feedback, and grown their player bases steadily. With SpaceCraft, they're swinging for their biggest audience yet, combining interstellar exploration, factory automation, and cooperative multiplayer in one package.
If the 400K wishlist converts even partially to sales, this could be Shiro Games' biggest launch to date. For fans of space sims, automation games, or simply the Northgard/Wartales pedigree — this is worth watching closely during Early Access.
One-liner: The makers of Northgard built a galaxy-scale automation sandbox in space, and it looks like it could be their masterpiece.